Carriage Of Candida Albicans Research Articles

Antifungal Susceptibility of Oral Candida Isolates from Mother-Infant Dyads to Nystatin, Fluconazole, and Caspofungin.

The carriage of Candida albicans in children's oral cavities is associated with a higher risk for early childhood caries, so controlling this fungus in early life is essential for preventing caries. In a prospective cohort of 41 mothers and their children from 0 to 2 years of age, this study addressed four main objectives: (1) Evaluate in vitro the antifungal agent susceptibility of oral Candida isolates from the mother-child cohort; (2) compare Candida susceptibility between isolates from the mothers and children; (3) assess longitudinal changes in the susceptibility of the isolates collected between 0 and 2 years; and (4) detect mutations in C. albicans antifungal resistance genes. Susceptibility to antifungal medications was tested by in vitro broth microdilution and expressed as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). C. albicans clinical isolates were sequenced by whole genome sequencing, and the genes related to antifungal resistance, ERG3, ERG11, CDR1, CDR2, MDR1, and FKS1, were assessed. Four Candida spp. (n = 126) were isolated: C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis, and C. lusitaniae. Caspofungin was the most active drug for oral Candida, followed by fluconazole and nystatin. Two missense mutations in the CDR2 gene were shared among C. albicans isolates resistant to nystatin. Most of the children's C. albicans isolates had MIC values similar to those from their mothers, and 70% remained stable on antifungal medications from 0 to 2 years. For caspofungin, 29% of the children's isolates showed an increase in MIC values from 0 to 2 years. Results of the longitudinal cohort indicated that clinically used oral nystatin was ineffective in reducing the carriage of C. albicans in children; novel antifungal regimens in infants are needed for better oral yeast control.

Effects of acrylic dentures on oral mucosa and salivary antimicrobial peptide content in denture wearers

Relevance. Aging of the body leads to the development of an imbalance in the secretory immunity of the oral mucosa, with the loss of natural teeth leading to an even more rapid decline in the host’s oral defense reactions. However, studies on salivary antimicrobial peptides in denture users and their potential role in protecting against the development of inflammation are still scarce at this time.Purpose. To evaluate the effects of full removable acrylic dentures on the oral mucosa and analyze the content of antimicrobial peptides in the saliva of wearers of such dentures.Materials and methods. Sixty-seven (21 men and 46 women) elderly patients (61 to 74 years old) with complete tooth loss were examined and divided into 3 study groups. In the 1st control group the patients did not use any dentures. Patients in groups 2 and 3 were made full removable acrylic dentures for the upper and lower jaws, and in group 2 from the first day of the adaptation period was used domestic denture fixation cream ASEPTA PARODONTAL. Assessment of the denture bed on the hard palate was performed visually using the Schiller – Pisarev test. Microbiological examination for Candida albicans was performed by PCR-diagnostics. The content of antimicrobial peptides in saliva was assessed using ELISA kits by Hycult Biotech.Results. The use of the adhesive cream was found to improve the condition of the palatal mucosa by 25% on the 15th day and by 50% on the 30th day of the adaptation period. Candida albicans was detected in oral material in more than 55% of patients in all groups during their initial examination. In the group of patients using denture fixation cream, a significant decrease in Candida albicans carriage was noted, while an increase in Candida albicans detection of up to 70% was noted in those not using the cream. There was also an increase in the level of cathelicidin LL-37 in the saliva of patients without the use of the cream and with a marked increase in inflammation. One month after dentures in patients without cream use the content of alpha-defensins (HNP 1-3) was significantly lower than that of the group with cream and the control group.Conclusion. On the basis of the carried out clinical and laboratory study, the domestic ACEPTA adhesive cream should be recommended for optimization of the adaptation period to removable acrylic dentures as well as for their permanent use.

Polyhexamethylene Biguanide in Vaginal Solution Is Effective in the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Pilot Study

Vaginitis is one of the most recurrent conditions that afflict women and require medical care. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is frequently related to vaginal carriage of Candida albicans, an opportunistic polymorphic fungus, which colonizes the human skin, the mucosa and the reproductive tract. Actually, standard treatments to counteract vaginitis include several topical and oral treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new biguanide compound, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) in avaginal solution, in women affected by vaginal candidiasis. For this reason, 40 women showing the symptoms previously ascribed to vaginal candidiasis were recruited and treated with a single PHMB dose of vaginal solution. After a single dose of treatment, 80% of them had a complete resolution of the fungal infection; furthermore, all of them reported clinical benefits, statistically significant reduction in both clinical signs and symptoms of candidiasis and a score’s reduction of 50%.

Candida albicans Carriage in Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) and Maternal Relatedness.

IntroductionCandida albicans has been detected together with Streptococcus mutans in high numbers in plaque-biofilm from children with early childhood caries (ECC). The goal of this study was to examine the C. albicans carriage in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and the maternal relatedness.MethodsSubjects in this pilot cross-sectional study were recruited based on a convenient sample. DMFT(S)/dmft(s) caries and plaque scores were assessed during a comprehensive oral exam. Social-demographic and related background information was collected through a questionnaire. Saliva and plaque sample from all children and mother subjects were collected. C. albicans were isolated by BBL™ CHROMagar™ and also identified using germ tube test. S. mutans was isolated using Mitis Salivarius with Bacitracin selective medium and identified by colony morphology. Genetic relatedness was examined using restriction endonuclease analysis of the C. albicans genome using BssHII (REAG-B). Multilocus sequence typing was used to examine the clustering information of isolated C. albicans. Spot assay was performed to examine the C. albicans Caspofungin susceptibility between S-ECC children and their mothers. All statistical analyses (power analysis for sample size, Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analyses) were implemented with SAS 9.4ResultsA total of 18 S-ECC child-mother pairs and 17 caries free child-mother pairs were enrolled in the study. Results indicated high C. albicans carriage rate in the oral cavity (saliva and plaque) of both S-ECC children and their mothers (>80%). Spearman’s correlation coefficient also indicated a significant correlation between salivary and plaque C. albicans and S. mutans carriage (p<0.01) and caries severity (p<0.05). The levels of C. albicans in the prepared saliva and plaque sample (1ml resuspension) of S-ECC children were 1.3 ± 4.5 x104 cfu/ml and 1.2 ± 3.5 x104 cfu/ml (~3-log higher vs. caries-free children). Among 18 child-mother pairs, >60% of them demonstrated identical C. albicans REAG-B pattern. C. albicans isolated from >65% of child-mother pairs demonstrated similar susceptibility to caspofungin in spot assay, while no caspofungin resistant strains were seen when compared with C. albicans wild-type strain SC5314. Interestingly, the regression analysis showed that factors such as antibiotic usage, birth weight, inhaler use, brushing frequency, and daycare attendance had no significant effect on the oral carriage of C. albicans in the S-ECC children.ConclusionsOur results reveal that both the child with S-ECC and the mother were highly infected with C. albicans, while most of the strains were genetically related, suggesting that the mother might be a source for C. albicans acquisition in the oral cavity of children affected by the disease.

A piglet model for studyingCandida albicanscolonization of the human oro-gastrointestinal tract

Pigs from a variety of sources were surveyed for oro-gastrointestinal (oro-GIT) carriage of Candida albicans. Candida albicans-positive animals were readily located, but we also identified C. albicans-free pigs. We hypothesized that pigs could be stably colonized with a C. albicans strain of choice, simply by feeding yeast cells. Piglets were farrowed routinely and remained with the sow for 4 days to acquire a normal microbiota. Piglets were then placed in an artificial rearing environment and fed sow milk replacer. Piglets were inoculated orally with one of three different C. albicans strains. Piglets were weighed daily, and culture swabs were collected to detect C. albicans orally, rectally and in the piglet's environment. Stable C. albicans colonization over the course of the study did not affect piglet growth. Necropsy revealed mucosally associated C. albicans throughout the oro-GIT with the highest abundance in the esophagus. Uninoculated control piglets remained C. albicans-negative. These data establish the piglet as a model to study C. albicans colonization of the human oro-GIT. Similarities between oro-GIT colonization in humans and pigs, as well as the ease of working with the piglet model, suggest its adaptability for use among investigators interested in understanding C. albicans-host commensal interactions.

Salivary lactoferrin in HIV-infected children: Correlation with Candida albicans carriage, oral manifestations, HIV infection and its antifungal activity

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the concentration of lactoferrin in the saliva of HIV infected and healthy children and analyze the associations between lactoferrin levels, Candida sp. colonization, oral manifestations and medical data. Also, the antifungal ability of lactoferrin to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans isolated from saliva of these children was investigated in vitro. Subjects and methodsSaliva was collected from 70 HIV-infected and 50 healthy children, followed by oral manifestation assessments. The salivary lactoferrin was quantified using an ELISA Kit®. The salivary samples were cultured and the Candida spp. colonies counted and then identified by sugar assimilation and fermentation. The antifungal activity of lactoferrin was analyzed in vitro with 10 isolates of C. albicans from each group. ResultsThe HIV infected children (mean age 9.8±2.8) had higher lactoferrin levels (median 6.13μg/ml (3.58–7.89)) and were colonized three times more by Candida sp. than the control group (mean age 9.4±2.4) (median 5.74μg/ml (3.12–6.86)) (p=0.003). Statistical associations were found considering the salivary lactoferrin levels and Candida sp. and oral manifestations between the groups. No associations between lactoferrin concentrations and oral manifestations, immunosuppression, presence of AIDS and use of HAART were observed in the HIV group. The percentage of dead C. albicans due to lactoferrin was inversely proportional to C. albicans cell density for both groups (p<0.001). ConclusionsHIV-infected children have higher concentrations of lactoferrin and it was associated with Candida sp. colonization but no association with medical data was found. Also, both groups showed similar lactoferrin antifungal activity.

Association between glycemic status and oral Candida carriage in patients with prediabetes

This study assessed the association between glycemic status and oral Candida carriage among patients with prediabetes. This was a comparative study of oral Candida carriage among individuals with prediabetes. Oral yeast samples were collected from 150 individuals: group A was 43 patients with prediabetes (fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c, 100 to 125 mg/dL and ≥5%, respectively); group B was 37 individuals previously considered prediabetic but having fasting blood glucose levels <100 mg/dL and hemoglobin A1c <5%; and group C was 70 medically healthy individuals. Oral yeasts were identified using standard techniques. Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate and number of missing teeth were recorded. Oral Candida was isolated from 100% of patients with prediabetes and from 65.7% of control participants. Candida albicans carriage was higher among patients with prediabetes (48.7%) (P < .01) and patients in group A (51.2%) (P < .01) than among controls (25.7%). Candida carriage, unstimulated whole salivary flow rate, and number of missing teeth were similar in groups A and B. Oral Candida carriage was higher in patients with prediabetes than in controls and was independent of glycemic status in patients with prediabetes.

Comparative Evaluation of Oral Candida albicans Carriage in Children with and without Dental Caries: A Microbiological in vivo Study.

ABSTRACTAim: The aim of this study was to examine the presence of Candida albicans in extensive carious lesions before and after treatment of the carious lesions and to evaluate the carriage of Candida albicans in children with and without caries.Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 60 childrens who were divided into two groups: Experimental group (group 1) and controlled group (group 2). Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the dentition as: Group A (Deciduous), group B (Mixed) and group C (Permanent). Swab samples for mycological studies were collected from the dorsum of the tongue, vestibular sulcus and peak of the palatal vault. All samples were cultured directly on SDA plate (Sabouraud's dextrose agar). Number of Candida colonies was determined by counting colony forming unit on SDA plates. Further identification of Candida albicans was done by germ-tube test and corn-meal agar.Result: Overall prevalence of Candida albicans carriage was significantly higher and mean value of Candida albicans CFU (colony forming unit) was remarkably higher in group 1 (experimental group) as compare to group 2 (control group). Significant reduction in the frequency and mean value of Candida albicans CFU/plate was seen in children after treatment of carious lesions.Conclusion: This study supports the active role of Candida species in dental caries. Hence, Candida albicans may play an important role as a risk factor for dental caries. It was also seen that the oral environment stabilization procedures were able to reduce Candida albicans counts. Thus, these procedures can be considered efficient in the reduction of caries risk.How to cite this article: Srivastava B, Bhatia HP, Chaudhary V, Aggarwal A, Singh AK, Gupta N. Comparative Evaluation of Oral Candida albicans Carriage in Children with and without Dental Caries: A Microbiological in vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(2):108-112.

Selective Expression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Nef in Specific Immune Cell Populations of Transgenic Mice Is Associated with Distinct AIDS-Like Phenotypes

We previously reported that CD4C/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)(Nef) transgenic (Tg) mice, expressing Nef in CD4(+) T cells and cells of the macrophage/dendritic cell (DC) lineage, develop a severe AIDS-like disease, characterized by depletion of CD4(+) T cells, as well as lung, heart, and kidney diseases. In order to determine the contribution of distinct populations of hematopoietic cells to the development of this AIDS-like disease, five additional Tg strains expressing Nef through restricted cell-specific regulatory elements were generated. These Tg strains express Nef in CD4(+) T cells, DCs, and macrophages (CD4E/HIV(Nef)); in CD4(+) T cells and DCs (mCD4/HIV(Nef) and CD4F/HIV(Nef)); in macrophages and DCs (CD68/HIV(Nef)); or mainly in DCs (CD11c/HIV(Nef)). None of these Tg strains developed significant lung and kidney diseases, suggesting the existence of as-yet-unidentified Nef-expressing cell subset(s) that are responsible for inducing organ disease in CD4C/HIV(Nef) Tg mice. Mice from all five strains developed persistent oral carriage of Candida albicans, suggesting an impaired immune function. Only strains expressing Nef in CD4(+) T cells showed CD4(+) T-cell depletion, activation, and apoptosis. These results demonstrate that expression of Nef in CD4(+) T cells is the primary determinant of their depletion. Therefore, the pattern of Nef expression in specific cell population(s) largely determines the nature of the resulting pathological changes.

Genotypic profiles and virulence attributes of Candida albicans isolates from patients with oral lichen planus

Candida albicans carriage has been found to be increased in patients with oral lichen planus. In the present work we have investigated the genotypic profiles of 112 C. albicans strains isolated from patients with erosive or nonerosive OLP, and from healthy controls. The virulence attributes of the isolated strains were compared to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms through which C. albicans may cause OLP. We have characterized the genotypic profiles of these isolated strains using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA assay. In addition, we used assays to measure adhesion to buccal epithelial cells and phospholipase activity to evaluate the virulence attributes of these isolates. Our RAPD analyses revealed four different genotypes, named type A to D, among all isolates, and identified statistically significant associations with disease conditions. Specifically, type A (58.1%) and C (29.0%) were primarily found in erosive OLP, while type A (33.3%) and D (58.3%) were identified in nonerosive OLP. However, the healthy group seemed to have type B (38.5%) and D (61.5%). Using adhesion to BEC assay, we demonstrated that the isolates with genotype A had the strongest adherence among the four genotypes (P=0.000<0.05). The phospholipase activity of the isolates with genotype A and C was higher than for those with genotype B and D (P=0.000<0.05). In conclusion, some C. albicans isolates with special genotypic profiles and virulence attributes may contribute to the pathogenesis of OLP.

Chronic Candida albicans paronychia in adult Israeli women. Sources and spread.

SUMMARY The infected fingers in chronic paronychia were mostly on the dominant hand. Little fingers were less and middle fingers more affected than expected. Oral Candida albicans carriage was significantly less when the first finger to be infected was the middle finger. The duration of the disease was related to the number of infected fingers, but not to oral C. albicans carriage. The second finger to be infected was an opposite* or adjacent finger more often than expected. The following conclusions are drawn: (i) The mouth and the bowel, but not the vagina, of the patient, or her family, are sources of C. albicans in chronic paronychia. (2) Mechanical trauma that destroys the cuticle is responsible for the invasion of C. albicans into the nail-fold. (3) This trauma in our patients is mostly due to rubbing during hand-washing of clothes.

Altered CD4+ T Cell Phenotype and Function Determine the Susceptibility to Mucosal Candidiasis in Transgenic Mice Expressing HIV-1

The impairments of protective mucosal immunity which cause susceptibility to oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in HIV infection remain undefined. This study used a model of OPC in CD4C/HIV MutA transgenic (Tg) mice expressing Rev, Env, and Nef of HIV-1 to investigate the role of transgene expressing dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4+ T cells in maintenance of chronic oral carriage of Candida albicans. DCs were depleted in the Tg mice and had an immature phenotype, with low expression of MHC class II and IL-12. CD4+ T cells were quantitatively reduced in the oral mucosa, cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) and peripheral blood of the Tg mice, and displayed a polarization toward a nonprotective Th2 response. Proliferation of CLN CD4+ T cells from infected Tg mice in response to C. albicans Ag in vitro was abrogated and the cells failed to acquire an effector phenotype. Coculture of C. albicans-pulsed DCs with CD4+ T cells in vitro showed that Tg expression in either or both of these cell populations sharply reduced the proliferation of CD4+ T cells and their production of IL-2. Finally, transfer of naive non-Tg CD4+ T cells into these Tg mice restored proliferation to C. albicans Ag and sharply reduced oral burdens of C. albicans. Overall, these results indicate that defective CD4+ T cells primarily determine the susceptibility to chronic carriage of C. albicans in these Tg mice.

Candida albicans strain carriage in patients and nursing staff of an intensive care unit: a study of morphotypes and resistotypes.

Candida albicans carriage of patients and nursing staff of an intensive care unit (ICU) was studied over an 8-month period. Swabs were taken at weekly intervals from multiple sites from patients. None of the patients had clinical Candida infection at the time of the first sampling. The hands and mouth of the nursing staff were sampled at fortnightly intervals. Of the 68 patients investigated for varying periods, 37 (54%) yielded C. albicans from one or more body sites, resulting in the isolation of 269 strains. Nosocomial acquisition of C. albicans was recorded in seven (19%) patients. The frequency of C. albicans isolation increased with extended stay in ICU. Sixteen of the 180 samples taken from hands and mouth of nursing staff, yielded C. albicans, 12 of which came from the mouth. Morphotyping of 88 randomly selected strains of C. albicans originating from 31 patients yielded 34 morphotypes. There appeared to be no preference for any morphotype to colonize a particular anatomic site. Based on the susceptibility results, nine resistotypes were recognized. No correlation was apparent between any specific morphotype and resistotype patterns. The differences in morphotype and resistogram patterns of C. albicans isolates originating from same patients over a period of time suggest that some of the patients were colonized with more than one strain. Similarities in the morphotype and resistotype patterns of C. albicans strains isolated from patients and nursing staff tend to suggest possibility of exogenous acquisition.

Declining rates of oropharyngeal candidiasis and carriage of Candida albicans associated with trends toward reduced rates of carriage of fluconazole-resistant C. albicans in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

In order to determine the current prevalence and incidence of fluconazole-resistant oropharyngeal candidiasis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, we conducted a prospective observational study of a consecutive series of HIV-infected patients. Of 128 enrolled patients, 70 patients completed four quarterly follow-up visits over a period of 1 year. Over this period, declining rates of carriage of Candida albicans (from 61% to 39%; P = .008) and of oropharyngeal candidiasis (from 30% to 4%; P < .001) were documented. Trends toward reduction in the frequency of fluconazole-resistant isolates (MIC, > or = 64 micrograms/mL) were also seen. During the survey period, the mean (median) number of antiretroviral agents used per patient rose from 0.5 (0) to 1.8 (2) (P < .001). Thus, rather than progression, we observed declining rates of oropharyngeal candidiasis, C. albicans carriage, and fluconazole-resistant C. albicans in a cohort of HIV-infected patients treated with increasingly effective antiretroviral therapy.

Oral carriage of Candida albicans in murine AIDS.

Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although rare at the time of primary HIV infection, it is frequently found throughout the asymptomatic phase and is predictive of progressive immunodeficiency. However, the precise immune defect which results in outgrowth of commensal Candida albicans in HIV infection has not been identified. Mice infected with the Du5H(G6T2) mixture of mouse leukemia viruses develop a syndrome, designated murine AIDS (MAIDS), that has many of the immune abnormalities found in HIV infection. Retrovirus-infected C57BL/6 mice were examined for their ability to resist the development of oral candidiasis from the carrier state established after a self-limiting acute infection and to clear a subsequent secondary inoculum of oral C. albicans. Most of the mice orally colonized with C. albicans and then inoculated with the retrovirus mixture maintained a low-level oral carriage of C. albicans, while 30% of coinfected mice developed recurring 2- to 3-week episodes of acute Candida proliferation, separated by transient recoveries to the carrier state. The frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were, respectively, unchanged and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in both cervical lymph nodes and spleens of coinfected mice compared to the corresponding frequencies in C. albicans-carrying, virus-free, age-matched control animals. Secretion of gamma interferon by concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated spleen cells from Candida-carrying, retrovirus-infected mice was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to that of C. albicans-carrying, retrovirus-free mice, in accordance with known abnormalities associated with MAIDS. However, production of this cytokine by ConA-stimulated or unstimulated cervical lymph node cells from coinfected mice was enhanced compared to that of virus-free animals colonized with C. albicans. Acquired resistance to reinfection with C. albicans was maintained in retrovirus-infected mice and was associated with a mucosal recruitment of CD8+ cells not observed in control mice. These results suggest that alterations in mucosal immunity which occur in MAIDS differ substantially from defects observed at other sites and that surrogate epithelial defense mechanisms may function locally to limit Candida proliferation.

Oral carriage of Candida species in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome.

Oral carriage of Candida albicans was studied in 55 children and adolescents with Down's syndrome (DS), aged between 7 months and 20 years 6 months, and compared with an age- and sex-matched control group of subjects. Twenty-two of the DS subjects were diagnosed as having congenital cardiovascular malformations. Compared to controls, the DS subjects were more prone to infections. The number of subjects colonized with C. albicans in the oral cavity was significantly higher in the DS group (69%) than in the control group (35%). Colonization with C. albicans and simultaneous erythematous or white pseudomembranous lesions of the oral mucosa were diagnosed in 22 (40%) of the DS groups and in only one of the control group. In both the DS and the healthy control subjects the frequency of colonization with C. albicans was positively correlated to age. The DS subjects were significantly more densely colonized by C. albicans than the controls. Abnormalities of the immune response in DS children may contribute to the increased oral carriage of C. albicans.

Effect of sialoadenectomy on the carriage of Candida albicans in the mouths of rats

Xerostomia provoked in rats by surgical removal of the major salivary glands significantly increased oral carriage of Candida albicans. Five weeks after 3 oral inoculations of 10(8) CFU, C. albicans were found in the mouths in 50% of normal animals but after 8 weeks in none. In xerostomic rats, 100% had oral C. albicans after 5 weeks and after 18 weeks, 66.6% still harboured yeasts. Over the whole experimental period the amount of C. albicans was greater in the mouths of sialoadenectomized than in normal rats.

Asymptomatic oral Candida albicans carriage in HIV-infection: frequency and predisposing factors.

Many studies have focused on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of oral candidiasis in HIV infection. Little is known on the incidence and predisposing factors of asymptomatic oral candida carriage in this setting, obviously an important issue in view of prophylaxis. To address this question, 261 consecutive HIV-infected individuals without clinical evidence of candidiasis were investigated. C. albicans was isolated from cultured oral cavity swabs of 63 subjects (24%). Colonization was significantly more frequent in IV drug users, CDC groups IV, and in subjects with lymphocytopenia, CD4+ cell depletion, or elevated beta-2 microglobulin. These data further suggest that oral candidiasis occurs in HIV infection as a result of C. albicans overgrowth and raise the question of primary antifungal prophylaxis in subjects with low CD4 counts and asymptomatic oral Candida carriage.

Oral carriage ofCandida albicans, ABO blood group and secretor status in healthy subjects

ABO blood group and secretor status were determined in healthy subjects in relation to oral carriage of Candida albicans, using a mouthwash technique to identify carriers and non-carriers. Of 100 subjects studied, 32% carried Candida, the main species isolated being C. albicans (94% isolates). Carriage of C. albicans was significantly associated with blood group O (p less than 0.001) and independently, with non-secretion of blood group antigens (p less than 0.001), with the trend towards carriage being greatest in group O non-secretors. This suggests that in healthy subjects, blood group O and non-secretion of blood group antigens are separate and cumulative risk factors for oral carriage of C. albicans.

Experimental chronic vaginal candidosis in rats.

In the past, the rat model of experimental vaginal candidosis has been used to study the efficacy of antifungal agents in eradicating acute vaginitis. In the present study, chronic vaginal candidosis was induced to study the natural history of the infection. Results indicate that chronic infection is readily achieved and is strictly dependent on oophorectomy and hormonal maintenance of pseudoestrous. Histologic studies confirm that rats so infected and with long term vaginal carriage of Candida albicans have true chronic infection with extensive mycelial formation and superficial mucosal invasion.